Sunday, February 17, 2019

Hope in God


The WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021719.cfm) reminds me that it will never be useless to hope in God. 


They say that life is unfair, and it a lot of sense, this is true. You don’t always get what you deserve, both in the positive and negative aspect of if. However God is always fair, and we just need to hold on to that thought when subjected to unfair situations. This reality should give us hope.

May pakialam ang Diyos sa kapakanan mo. 

The first reading and the psalm remind us of the benefits of hoping in God. He will reward those who hope in him. He will reward those who are faithful. We just need to persevere. In the second reading, we are reminded of his power. Thus in the gospel, we see the beatitudes or what other call the be-attitudes. God tells us how we should act and live. 

God may not always answer us the way we want to, but his answer is always better than ours.

Sometimes God does not answer how we want him to, but his answer will always be better. Sometimes God does not reward us in this life, but his reward will always be better. Eternal paradise is definitely a lot better than temporary comfort in this world.

No matter what situation we may be in. No matter how hopeless and helpless we may feel. No matter how the world treats us. We should always remember that God loves us. That he is watching over us. And he has great plans for us - in this world and the next. We just need to have faith and trust in Him. 

Do I really trust in God, especially during difficult moments? How can I strengthen my faith in Him? What prevents me from trusting in him, especially when times are tough? 


May we remember the words of the psalmist – “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord” and have full faith and hope in him despite whatever situation we may be in. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for another day to love and experience your love. Thank you for always reminding me of your goodness. Lord, sorry for the times I lose my faith in you. Sorry for letting the world overwhelm me. Sorry for not trusting in you enough. Lord, I ask that you never let me go. I put my faith and hope in you. I know you will continue to bless me and provide for me, and you see what I am going through and my concerns. I know you have a great plan for me – in this world and the next. Amen.



Blessed Sunday!



In Christ,

-g-



Ps

See related reflection:









February 17 2019

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 78

Reading 1 JER 17:5-8

Thus says the LORD:
Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings,
who seeks his strength in flesh,
whose heart turns away from the LORD.
He is like a barren bush in the desert
that enjoys no change of season,
but stands in a lava waste,
a salt and empty earth.
Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD,
whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters
that stretches out its roots to the stream:
it fears not the heat when it comes;
its leaves stay green;
in the year of drought it shows no distress,
but still bears fruit.


Responsorial Psalm PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6 


R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked,
nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
but delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
that yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.


Reading 2 1 COR 15:12, 16-20

Brothers and sisters:
If Christ is preached as raised from the dead,
how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?
If the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,
and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain;
you are still in your sins.
Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If for this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are the most pitiable people of all.

But now Christ has been raised from the dead,
the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Alleluia LK 6:23AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Rejoice and be glad;
your reward will be great in heaven.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.



Jesus came down with the twelve
and stood on a stretch of level ground
with a great crowd of his disciples
and a large number of the people
from all Judea and Jerusalem
and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon.
And raising his eyes toward his disciples he said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
Woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.”

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